The survey work for setting up a jelly crusher unit was postponed following vociferous protests by people of Kalathur, Chara, Santhekatte and Nalkur villages against the unit here on Monday.
The people of these villages, mostly farmers, turned out in large numbers and blocked the vehicle of the personnel of the Department of Mines and Geology, who had come with police protection, to carry out the survey.
Though the officials of the department tried to talk to the protesters, their efforts did not yield any result. After waiting for nearly three-and-a-half hours during which the protests were on, the officials of the department left the spot saying that the survey had been postponed to a later date.
The villagers made it clear to the officials that they should be given a fortnight’s notice before the next survey and that notices should be served to all the households likely to be affected.
Renuka Shetty, who grows arecanut, coconut, cashew, paddy, and pineapple, said that her field was located close to the proposed crusher unit. The setting up of a jelly crusher plant would affect fertile agricultural fields and the health of the people. “It is not just my field, but also all fields and houses in a radius of five kilometres would be affected,” she said.
Environmental damage would be incalculable as the Sita runs close-by and the river too would get polluted. It would affect the nearby tourist spot of Jomlu Tirtha Waterfalls, Ms. Shetty said.
Another farmer, Bhaskar Poojary, said that the proposed unit would affect the movement of wild animals such as deer, wild boars, leopards and peacocks. “The constant blasting of rocks during the operation of the crusher unit will mean that we will not be able to send our cattle for grazing,” he said.
Yashodha Naik, a farmer, said that she had to go out to work in her fields daily. “The blasting of rocks will be a constant source of fear. It will be difficult to leave my two children at home from the point of view of safety,” she said.
Nearly 150 women work in a cashewnut factory in the village. Vishwanath Salian, factory owner, said that constant blasts will lead to cracks in the walls of nearby houses and his factory.
Mahesh, geologist, Department of Mines and Geology, said that since the Udupi Tahsildar could not come to the spot on account of elections to the Kaup Town Municipal Council, the survey has been postponed to a date to be decided later.
